by Sam Mariano
“Want me to get my doctor kit and make you all better?” Lily asks.
Gasping, Isabella adds, “I can be the nurse!”
“That sounds like a great idea,” I tell them. “Why don’t you guys do that after dinner, though?”
“And you don’t have to work? We can do bedtime stories?” Lily asks.
“Absolutely,” I agree.
Mateo hangs back as I give more hugs and entertain little girl chatter, then Ju hauls them both out so she can make them dinner.
As soon as they’re gone, Mateo raises an eyebrow. “You’re never allowed to leave the house again, I hope you realize that.”
Smiling at him, I roll my eyes. “Impossible. Someone has to run the bakery.”
“I’ll find someone else.”
I shake my head. “Once I get this under control,” I say, gesturing to my stomach, “I’ll be good to go. At least until we can get someone else in there. I’d like to teach Mia and we could run it together, that way I don’t have to be there all the time.”
“I’m not worried about the bakery right now,” he states, taking a seat on the edge of the bed.
“I know, but it doesn’t just disappear because something came up,” I point out.
“It might, if we keep not showing up without notice,” he says lightly.
“Exactly,” I say, lightly shoving his arm. “And it’s been in your family for so long, we gotta keep up the tradition.”
“I’m supposed to be the traditional one,” he informs me.
“Well, I get half your shit now,” I remind him, flashing the ring.
Smirking, he says, “Ah, so that’s why you won’t leave.”
I nod. “That, and the awesome sex.”
Glancing at my stomach, he tells me, “I think it’s going to be a while before we can have any more of that.”
“I know,” I say, scowling. “That’s probably my least favorite thing about the experience.”
“It’s definitely in my top ten.” Reaching forward and caressing my face, he tells me, “Things might get bad for a while. We have to ferret out who was involved, and other than you, no one’s safe.”
“No one?” I ask, with concern.
“Well, Adrian. He wasn’t involved. And Mia. If Mia knew anything…”
He doesn’t finish, but I nod and do it for him. “She would’ve told you.”
He nods once. “Anyone who was involved will be dealt with, family or not. You’re going to see me do a lot of things in the coming days that you might not like.”
His hand has dropped to mine, and I nod, considering that while I rub my thumb across his knuckles. “Like I said before, I know who you are. I know you do things I wouldn’t be thrilled about.”
“But I haven’t been, and that’s why we’re here,” he states, sounding more than a little aggravated with himself. “I’ve been too soft lately, too forgiving.” Raising his eyebrows accusingly, he says, “I’m pretty sure it’s your fault. I’m much better at my job when I’m not distracted.”
“Don’t let me distract you,” I say, eyes widening. “I want you at the top of your game. I’m not excited about the prospect of you potentially killing people I’ve had dinner with, but at the end of the day, if it’s you or them, then there’s no choice. I don’t love violence and mayhem, but you do what you have to do. I’m going to be here for you at the end of every day, no matter what.”
He stares at for a moment with great intensity, then he shakes his head and says more seriously than he ever says anything, “I’m so glad Castellanos sent you to kill me.”
I smile. “He did us both a solid, there.”
“Maybe I’ll take that into consideration and make his death quick.”
My lips firm into a line and my eyes narrow as I rock my head back and forth, considering that one. “I don’t know. I think you should still make him suffer. Like, cut off all his fingers and toes first, shoot him in the knee cap. Once he’s crying, then you can put him out of his misery.”
Mateo shakes his head. “I’m a lucky man.”
“You really are,” I agree.
“When this is all over, I’m taking you away somewhere. Think about where you wanna go. I strongly encourage a choice which requires you in a bikini.”
“Ugh,” I say, rolling my eyes. “I can never wear a bikini again. My stretch marks from Lily I could accept, but now I’ve got this gunshot wound? One-pieces for me from here on out, sorry.”
Mateo shakes his head. “No way. You have a gunshot wound—you’re an official badass now. I don’t even have a gunshot wound. A weird gash in my thigh from being stabbed, but even I’ve never been shot.”
“And you’re such a badass,” I state, suddenly realizing how awesome this is. “Wow, I hadn’t thought of it that way. Never mind, I’ll wear the bikini.”
He smirks, nodding his head. “There we go.”
“Manipulator,” I accuse, realizing he just tricked me.
Shrugging unapologetically, he says, “It works, what can I say?”
“Remember that conversation we had about your bad karma?” I ask, raising an eyebrow.
He waves it off. “You didn’t really cheat on me though, it was a false alarm.”
I shake my head. “That wasn’t the takeaway. You were still supposed to learn something.”
“I did. I learned that I’m going to have to take over the whole city, whether I want to or not, and that I have to keep Adrian somehow, and if I ever suspect you of cheating again, I’m just gonna have to kill the guy, because it didn’t make me stop wanting you.”
“This is… these are not the lessons,” I tell him.
He nods, standing. “We must have different notes.”
“You’re incorrigible,” I inform him.
“And you love it,” he shoots back. “Now, I have to go play the role of karma for a little while, but I’ll be back in time to lie next to you and imagine fucking you before we go to sleep.”
“Sounds like a lot of fun,” I inform him.
“You shouldn’t plan on doing much else once you’re functioning again.”
My eyes drift over his beautiful body, once more draped in a sharp suit, looking oh-so-tempting. “Maybe every night before bed, we should share all the dirty things we want to do to each other, in great detail. They say anticipation makes it better, right? After literally weeks of dirty-talking celibacy, we’ll be out of our minds.”
“That sounds like legitimate torture,” he states. “I’m into it though, let’s do it.”
I grin at him. “This is gonna be so hard.”
---
I spend more time taking it easy in bed than I’d like, but by Saturday I’m able to go downstairs for dinner.
Not able, like I physically couldn’t before, but able, in that Mateo finally let me.
I’m actually a little excited to dress up again. While having my meals brought to me has helped me avoid going up and down the stairs when I’m sore and unable to take pain meds, I miss people. Mia has stopped over a few times, but I have her covering for me at the bakery, so she’s pretty busy this week.
I still kind of miss my death necklace, looking at my reflection in the mirror, but the new addition of my engagement ring more than makes up for it.
Mateo’s in his study with Adrian, having drinks. At least, I thought it was only Adrian, until I walk in and see some new guy seated in one of the wing chairs.
He’s really cute—dark hair, nice blue eyes, a roguish smile. Doesn’t look like a Morelli.
Even more jarring than the random new dude, however, is that Mateo’s sitting. I’ve never seen Mateo sit in one of the wing chairs before, he always perches at the edge of his desk. He’s laughing at something the new guy says when I come in, but his gaze immediately moves to me, eyes warming.
“Here she is,” Mateo murmurs, standing to walk toward me.
“Oh,” I say, with a light laugh. “Were you waiting for me?”
“I was just telling C
olin about you.”
Nodding at the stranger, I say, “Colin, I presume. I’m Meg.”
Colin stands as well, and it seems like he’s going to shake my hand, but he brings it to his lips and kisses it instead, looking up at me through sinfully long lashes. “Pleasure’s all mine,” he tells me.
With. A. Thick. Irish. Accent.
I withdraw my hand, scowling at him in response and offer no greeting.
Mateo gives him a tolerating look of warning, and I’m too fresh off a fake affair to want to linger any longer. “I’m gonna go help with dinner,” I say.
“No,” Mateo says, catching me by the wrist before I can escape. “Stay.”
I narrow my eyes at Colin, but he doesn’t seem bothered by it. He’s smiling, like he’s not tempting Mateo to kill him for his abundant charm.
“I’m yer new bodyguard,” Colin informs me.
My eyes widen. “No.”
He nods, glancing to Mateo for confirmation.
Almost reluctantly, Mateo says, “He is.”
“No,” I say again, this time shaking my head. “Nope. No, thank you.”
Mateo smiles, tugging me close, but he’s not charming me into this one. No way, no how. I spoke to Salvatore Castellanos for two minutes and there was hell to pay, I’ll be damned if an attractive Irishman is going to guard my body.
“He’s good,” Mateo assures me.
“I like my chances with the bullets better,” I inform him.
Colin laughs, abandoning us to this conversation and dropping back into the wing chair across from Adrian.
Mateo plants his hands on my hips, pulling me in front of him. “Afraid you’re going to cheat on me?” he jokes.
“Nope. Afraid you’ll imagine another affair? Yes.”
“I promise not to,” he assures me. “Plus, we’ve already been over this. If I ever suspect you of cheating again, I’m going after the guy, not you.”
“Couldn’t you give me an ugly bodyguard?” I request. “Or, like, a woman? I’m totally down with a new female friend. Get me a badass lady bodyguard.”
“I don’t have any of those on my payroll,” he says, amused. “I’ll look into it for future reference, but right now there’s an immediate need. All of my people are going to be occupied with Castellanos, so Adrian suggested Colin.”
“Well, Adrian should’ve recalled what happened last time he let me be around an attractive man who wasn’t you,” I state.
“You make me sound so controlling.”
I raise my eyebrows. “I don’t even have enough time before dinner to respond to that.”
His brown eyes twinkle with mischievous amusement and he leans in, his warm breath sending tingles everywhere as his lips find my neck.
I close my eyes, faintly groaning. “Not fair.”
“Heal faster,” he murmurs, leaving a trail of kisses up to my ear, where he stops to nibble.
“I’m trying to channel my inner Wolverine, but it doesn’t seem to be working.”
He pulls back, smiling down at me. “Well, try harder. I’m upping my bedtime story game tonight.”
“You’re killin’ me, Morelli.”
Reaching down to take my hand, he leads me over to the wing chairs and I take a seat in the one he was in, while he lingers beside it. Colin smiles at me, and I give him another narrowed look to let him know I’ve got my eye on him.
Out of the corner of my eye, I spot Cherie coming in to do the pre-dinner drinks for the men. I probably could’ve done that myself, but I’m already sitting now, and to be honest, sitting down and standing up are both uncomfortable acts, even now.
I guess I’ll have to accept the bodyguard for now. If any more bullets come flying my way, I’d rather they hit him than me.
I glance at him, privately amused that I’m already maiming him in my mind, but I’ve lost his interest. As Cherie approaches, his eyes twinkle, roaming over her body appreciatively.
“Well, hello, lass,” he says.
As she fills his glass, her gaze flicks up to him, lips curving up slightly. “You’re not a Morelli.”
“No, thankfully not,” he agrees, with his charming little smirk.
Cherie offers back a smirk of her own. “Luck of the Irish.”
“Colin McGregor,” he offers, reaching for her free hand.
Cherie shakes her head, not giving him her hand or her name. “I’m calling you Irish,” she states.
“As long as ye call me somethin’,” he replies, winking.
“I bet that accent does good things for you, doesn’t it?” she replies.
He shrugs with feigned modesty. “I’m no’ complainin’,”
Mateo interrupts to inform my roguish new bodyguard, “She’s 17.”
Pulling a face of exaggerated displeasure, he asks, “For how much longer?”
Cherie laughs, walking past him to go fill Adrian’s drink. “One more month.”
“Ah, that’s no’ so very long,” Colin says.
She gives him a wink over her shoulder, but I think it’s more to annoy Mateo than because she’s interested in the Irishman.
“My house isn’t a brothel,” Mateo states.
“You should stop bringing in pretty young maids,” Adrian suggests.
“Bring one more,” I add. “We need to find Joey a girl so he’ll back off Vince. Also, we need new blood in the kitchen on Sundays.”
“I think we should hold off on worrying about new Morelli women until we get this territory situation under control,” Adrian advises me.
“You’re so pragmatic, Adrian,” I tell him, shaking my head. “What would we do without you?”
“Get shot at, apparently,” he returns dryly.
“No’ anymore,” Colin tells us, giving me another wink, I think now just because he knows it annoys me.
Cherie sighs, watching Colin. “Has anyone given you a tour yet?”
He shakes his head. “You offerin’?”
She hauls the decanter back to the alcohol cart and heads back over to the wing chairs. “Might as well. You’re not going to survive this job, and I don’t know how much time we have until Mateo kills you; let’s squeeze in all the flirting we can.”
Unbothered by the inevitability of his own mortality, Colin says, "Oh, come on, now. I can't imagine a lass looks like you wants for male attention."
Cherie raises her dark eyebrows. "You know how guys hesitate to pursue girls who have scary older brothers?" She gestures to Adrian and Mateo. "I have these guys."
Colin raises an eyebrow at that, but he doesn't look any less interested. "You're a Morelli?"
She nods. "Technically. And Vince is my actual scary older brother, and he went to my high school. So yeah, no one's coming near me. I'm going to die a virgin, old and alone."
"No, I wouldn’t let that happen," he tells her, smirking.
Adrian speaks up. "Okay, McGregor. Rein it in."
Cherie shakes her head, smiling as Colin stands. "You're so dead, Irish. So dead."
Colin shakes his head. "I'm no' scared of them. I'm pretty bad meself," he tells her, smiling when a dreamy sigh slips out of her.
"Let's go. Keep talking. You make words sound like music.”
Adrian waits until they're out the door, then he jumps up, abandoning his drink on the table, and heads after them. "I'm gonna go keep an eye on that."
Once Adrian is gone, Mateo laughs, dropping into the wing chair he just vacated.
I push out of mine, despite the discomfort, so I can go sit in his lap. "I hope you find a badass lady guard soon, 'cause this one isn't going to last."
Mateo grins, but it's his evil, plotting grin. "Actually, you're gonna have to get used to him. I think I’ll keep Colin on indefinitely."
My eyebrows rise in surprise. "Even though he's flirting with Cherie?"
"Because he's flirting with Cherie. Adrian's always been very protective of her. He's not going to leave when this is all over if he's still worried about her. He knows I’m not ove
rly protective of her. Colin is exactly what I needed.”
I shake my head, a little astounded that in Mateo’s mind, a hot Irish mercenary pursuing his ten-years-younger cousin is a good thing. “I love the way your brain works,” I tell him, using his tie to pull him closer, and placing a kiss on his forehead.
He grins again, but this time with warmth, instead of maniacal pleasure. “And I love the way your brain works. Most people find my problem-solving methods morally questionable.”
I roll my eyes mockingly in solidarity. “Fools.”
His eyes sparkle, and he caresses my face, pulling me in for a gentle kiss. “In everyone else’s book, I’m a villain. You look at me like I’m a hero.”
My heart fills up, and baby hormones tempt me to tears, but I manage to keep myself together as I lean against him, resting my head on his shoulder. “You are my hero.”
Adrian suddenly pops back in, an unhappy Cherie and a cheerful Colin right on his trail. Holding up his phone, he looks at Mateo. “I have to leave.”
“Everything okay?”
“Maybe. I got a lead on some information, I need to go check it out. Someone needs to watch these two,” he states, indicating the pair behind him.
“I’m not seven,” Cherie complains.
“An’ I’m a gentleman,” Colin assures us, but I’m pretty sure no one believes him.
Adrian briefly glares at Colin, then tells Cherie, “You will always be seven.”
She narrows her eyes at him, crossing her arms over her chest. “Morelli womanhood is the absolute worst. This is probably why Francesca ran away.”
I grimace, because damn.
Once it’s out, even Cherie apparently realizes that was harsh. “Ugh. Anyway, before I put my foot any further into my mouth, I’m taking Irish on a tour of the house; you can always go over the footage later if you don’t trust me.”
“Let’s no’ talk about puttin’ anything in yer mouth for another month,” Colin suggests lowly, causing Cherie to nearly die from stifled laughter.
Adrian gets his scary homicidal teddy bear look and slowly turns to give Colin a glare I’m certain is going to cause him to evaporate in a puff of gray dust.
“Okay,” Mateo says, holding up a hand to preempt any violence. “We’ll chaperone.”